Identification
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Subject
(code, title, credits)
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INTR 531: International Conflicts
3KU / 6ECTS credits
16 Weeks, 64 hours
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Department
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Political Science and International Relations
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Level
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Graduate
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Term
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Spring 2015
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Instructor
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Bakhtiyar Aslanov
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E-mail:
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bakhtiyar.aslan@gmail.com
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Phone:
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(+994) 55 8209671
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Classroom/hours
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11 Mehseti str. (Neftchilar campus), Room 503 Old Buildin, Tuesday 10:30 - 13:20
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Office hours
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By appointment
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Prerequisites
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None
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Language
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English
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Compulsory/Elective
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Elective for Political Science and International Relations
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Required textbooks and course materials
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Core readings:
No single book is exactly coterminous with the syllabus for this module. Please check the indicative reading list required for each session
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Course outline
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The aim of the International Conflicts course is to give the student a systematic understanding of the basic questions of peace and conflict studies in order to be able to critically assess, examine and analyze the origin, development and resolution methods of armed conflicts on an academic basis.
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Course objectives
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At the end of the course, students are expected to have acquired knowledge and skills to identify (1) different theoretical perspectives on causes of armed conflict; (2) comparison of causes of intra-state, interstate and international armed conflicts; (3) how different causes interact; including background and proximate causes as well as causes; and (4) why and under what circumstances tensions and incompatibilities between and within groups, societies and states sometimes passes the threshold of armed violence;
In addition, students are also expected to have acquired skills and capabilities to, orally as well as in writing, present state-of-the-art overviews as well as own analyses in the field during their attendance in the class.
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Learning outcomes
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The student will acquire knowledge and skills that give the capacity for independent and critical assessment, the ability to solve problems self-reliantly and the ability to monitor the development of knowledge obtained by peace and conflict field.
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Course Plan
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The course includes lectures, presentations, group discussions, quiz and simulations at which students present and discuss topics related on different conflicts in the world. The insights acquired during the course—along with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills, and formulate and address a specific research problem identified in the course literature – are presented in mid-term and final exams. The course cover theoretical approaches for both interstate and intrastate conflicts, as well as particular aspects of conflict onset, dynamics, escalation, mediation, peace processes, role of international humanitarian role in international armed conflicts etc. Students are obliged to work independently with assessing and synthesizing the literature, through reading on their own, and organizing study groups, etc.
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Evaluation
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Methods
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Date/deadlines
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Percentage (%)
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Midterm evaluation
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To be determined by the Dean’s Office
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30
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Quiz 1
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5
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Quiz 2
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5
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Individual case-study and PowerPoint presentation
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(Research topics will be discussed with the students)
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10
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Small-group project (simulation)
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Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
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10
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Final exam
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To be determined by the Dean’s Office
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40
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Total
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100
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Policy
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You are expected to:
- attend classes on a regular basis as the classess are conducted in a combined lecture/seminat format where students should play an active part.
- read the assigned and suggested readings before you come to class
- engage actively in classroom discussions
- offer thoughtful and informed classroom presentations and written work
- submit all your assignments on time
- follow assignments closely and carefully.
Class attendance:
Students are required to comply with the attendance policy of Khazar University. Full-time students are expected to attend all classes unless they are sick or have the permission of the instructor (approved absence).
A student must submit an absence request in anticipation of an absence from the course. In case he/she fails to do so, his absence will be considered unapproved. Specifically, to be eligible for taking exams, students must not miss more than 20% of class hours (unapproved absences). Otherwise, the student can take the exam only with the approval of the School Dean. Continuing unapproved absences or lack of participation may lead to withdrawal from the course.
Academic misconduct
Academic honesty plays an essential part in maintaining the integrity of Khazar University. Students are expected to recognize and uphold high standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The following acts are examples of academic dishonesty, therefore are strictly forbidden and will, if proven, be penalized:
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plagiarism,
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cheating,
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unauthorized collaboration,
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falsification,
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multiple submissions.
On plagiarism:
Plagiarism is unethical and an offence under the University regulations. Please familiarize yourself with the regulations relating to plagiarism and cheating in examinations.
Plagiarism is copying other people's work without proper attribution. The students committing plagiarism and the students providing materials for plagiarizing will automatically receive a zero (0) for the assignment. Students must always indicate that they used someone else's words and ideas if they have done so, by using quotation marks and mentioning the source in the text or a footnote. A bibliography must also follow after the end of your essays.
Rules of Professional Conduct
The students shall behave in the way to create favorable academic and professional environment during the class hours. Unauthorized discussions and unethical behavior are strictly prohibited. Classroom behavior that seriously interferes with either (a) the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or (b) the ability of other students to benefit from the course program will not be tolerated. When a student’s behavior in a class is so seriously disruptive as to compel immediate action, the instructor has the authority to remove a student from the class on an interim basis, pending an informal hearing on the behavior.
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Tentative Schedule
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Date/Day (subject to changes if necessary)
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Topic
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Readings
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Week 1
27/01/2015
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Course Introduction & Definition of Armed Conflicts, Conflict Status: Ongoing, Terminated and Frozen Conflicts
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Wallensteen, Peter (2002); Understanding Conflict Resolution: War, Peace and Global System. pp. 13 – 57
Sarkees, Meredith Reid, Frank Whelon Wayman & J. David Singer (2003) “Inter-State, Intra-State, and Extra-State Wars: A Comprehensive Look at Their Distribution over Time, 1816–1997”, International Studies Quarterly 47(1): 49-70.
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Week 2
03/02/2015
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International Conflicts: Old and New War
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Kalyvas, Stathis (2001) “’New’ and ‘Old’ Civil Wars: A Valid Distinction?”, World Politics 54(1): 99-118.
Kalyvas, Stathis N. & Laia Balcells (2010) “International System and Technologies of Rebellion: How the End of the Cold War Shaped Internal Conflict”, American Political Science Review 104(3): 415-429.
Melander, Erik; Magnus Öberg & Jonathan Hall (2009) “Are ‘New Wars’ More Atrocious? Battle Intensity, Genocide and Forced Migration Before and After the End of the Cold War”, European Journal of International Relations 15(3): 505-536.
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Week 3
10/02/2015
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Escalation of International Conflicts
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Wright, Quincy Dec., 1965). “The Escalation of International Conflicts”, Journal of Conflict Resolution. Vol. 9, No. 4, pp.434-449
Sullivan, P. Michael (Mar., 1972). “Commitment and the Escalation of Conflicts”. The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp.28-38
Vinstok, Zeev (2008). ”Conflict escalation to violence and escalation of violent conflicts”. Children and Youth Services Review. Vol. 30, Issue. 3, pp. 297-310
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Week 4
17/02/2015
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Intensives for Armed
Conflict: Poverty, Inequality
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Lichbach, Mark Irving (1989). “An Evaluation of “Does Inequality Breed Political Conflict”. World Politics, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 431-470.
Brown, Graham and Anrim Langer (2010). “Horizontal Inequalities and Conflict: A Critical Review and Research Agenda”. Conflict, Security and Development, Vol. 10: No. 1, March 2010.
Boix, Carles (2008). “Economic Roots of Civil Wars and Revolutions in the Contemporary World”. World Politics, 60: pp. 390- 437.
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Week 5
24/02/2015
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Ethnic Separatism and Armed Conflict
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Fearon, James D. (1995) “Ethnic war as a commitment problem.” Department of Political Science; Stanford University 1-24.
Fearon, James D. (2004) “Separatist Wars, Partition, and World Order” Department of Political Science, Stanford University
Johnson, Carter (2008). “Partitioning to Peace Sovereignty, Demography, and Ethnic Civil Wars” International Security, Volume 32, Number 4, pp. 140-170
Jaroslav Tir (Oct., 2005). “Keeping the Peace after Secession: Territorial Conflicts between Rump and Secessionist States” The Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 49, No. 5, pp. 713-741
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Week 6
03/03/2015
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Civilians as victims of armed conflicts: Violence, Sexual Violence
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Kydd, Andrew H. and Barbara Walter (2006). “The Strategies of Terrorism”, International Security 31(1): 49-80.
Downes, Alexander B. (2006) “Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: The Causes of Civilian Victimization in War”, International Security 30(4): 152–95.
Wood, Elisabeth J. (2006) “Variation in Sexual Violence during War”, Politics and Society 34(3): 307-341.
Humphreys, Macartan and Jeremy M. Weinstein (2006) “Handling and Manhandling Civilians in Civil War: Determinants of the Strategies of Warring Factions”, American Political Science Review 100(3): 429-447.
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Week 7
10/03/2015
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Roles of Natural Resources in Armed Conflict: Case: Syria
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Ross, Michael, 2004. “How Do Natural Resources Influence Civil War? Evidence from Thirteen Cases”, International Organization 58(2004): 35–67
Collier, Paul & Anke Hoeffler (2005). “Resource Rents, Governance and Conflict”. Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 625-633.
Le Billon, Philippe, 2001.”The political ecology of war: natural resources and armed conflicts”. Political Geography 20 (2001): 561–584
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Week 8
17/03/2015
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Motivations of Individuals to Join Civil Wars
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Kalyvas, Stathis N. & Matthew Adam Kocher (2007). “How Free Is Free Riding in Civil Wars? Violence, Insurgency, and the Collective Action Problem,” World Politics 59 (2): 177-216.
Lichbach, Mark I. (1994). “What Makes Rational Peasants Revolutionary? Dilemma, Paradox, and Irony in Peasant Collective Action,” World Politics 46(3): 383-418.
Weinstein, Jeremy (2005). ”Resources and the Information Problem in Rebel Recruitment,” Journal of Conflict Resolution 49(4): 598-624.
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Week 9
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Midterm evaluation
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The exact date and time to be announced by the Deans Office.
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Week 10
31/03/2015
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Conflict Resolution: Typologies & Trends: Mediation in Armed Conflicts: Cases: Nagorno-Karabakh and Bosnia-Herzegovina
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Kydd, Andrew (Oct., 2003). Which Side Are You On? Bias, Credibility and Mediation.. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp.597-611
Intermediaries: Additional Thought on Third Parties; Young, R. Oran; Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 16, No 1, (Mar., 1972) p.51-65
Austermiller, Steven (2006) Mediation in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Second Application. Yale Human Rights and Development Journal, 9(1), 132–165.
Betts, Wendy (1999). Third Party Mediation: An Obstacle to Peace in Nagorno Karabakh, SAIS Review 19.2: p. 161-183
Kydd, H. Andrew (Aug., 2003). When Can Mediators Build Trust?. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 100, No. 3, pp.449-462
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Week 11
07/04/2015
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Negotiation
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Stedman, John. Stephen (1996). Negotiation and Mediation in Internal Conflict; Chapter 10; p: 341-376 (The International Dimensions of Internal Conflict; edited by Brown, E. Michael).
Wanis-St. John A and Kew D. (2008) Civil Society and Peace Negotiations: Confronting Exclusion. International Negotiation 13: 11–36;
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Week 12
14/04/2015
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The Role of Reconciliation for Durable Peace
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Bar-Tall, Daniel (2000), From Intractable Conflict through Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation; Psychological Analysis, Political Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 2; 351-365;
Brouneus, Karen, (2003) Reconciliation – Theory and Practice for Development Cooperation; Stockholm: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, September 2003
Bar-Tal, Daniel and Bennink H. Gemma (2004) “The Nature of Reconciliation as an Outcome and as a Process” in From Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation edited by Bar-Siman-Tov, Yaacov, 11-38, New-York: Oxford University Press
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Week 13
21/04/2015
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Commitment Problems (Power Sharing(s)) in Peace Agreements
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Jarstad K. Anna and Nilsson Desiree (2008) From Words to Deeds: The Implementation of Power-Sharing Pacts in Peace Accords; Conflict Management and Peace Science, 25: 206
Jarstad K. Anna (2008) “Power sharing: former enemies in joint government” in From War to Democracy Dilemmas of Peacebuilding; by Jarstad K. Anna and Sisk D. Timothy; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Nilsson Anders (2005), Reintegrating Ex-Combatants in Post-Conflict Societies; Stockholm: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency;
Sriram Lekha Chandra (2008) Peace as Governance Power-Sharing, Armed Groups and Contemporary Peace Negotiations; England: Palgrave Macmillan
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Week 14
28/04/2015
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Simulation Game: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
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Format of the simulation will be explained
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Week 15
05/05/2015
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Democratic Peace
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Russett, Bruce (2005). Bushwhacking the Democratic Peace. Yale University, International Studies Perspectives 6, 395–408.
Mesquita de Bueno Bruce; Morrow, D. James; Siverson, M. Randoph & Smith, Alastair (Dec., 1999). “An Institutional Explanation of the Democratic Peace”, Vol. 93, No. 4, pp. 791-807
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Week 16
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Final exam
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The exact date and time to be announced by the Deans Office.
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Additional readings and assignments will be provided by the instructor for this course.
If neccesary, some minor modifications may be made to this syllabus by the instructor.
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